The Origin of Copia

The Story Behind Copia

I started Copia as a quick personal project. My wife and I wanted a better way to visualize our spending, and instead of paying for a budgeting app, I decided to use my software engineering background to build something simple for us.

That first version was barebones — just a single page with a table and a graph showing income and expenses over time. Behind the scenes, I had a few tools pulling transaction data into Google Sheets, and I used the Google Sheets API to sync that transaction data.

At the same time, the U.S. economy was showing clear signs of strain. Families everywhere were facing rising grocery bills, higher housing costs, and increasing debt. That reality got me thinking: if this tool could help us stay on top of our finances, pay down debt, and work toward savings goals, maybe it could help others too.

And like many others, I was also a long-time Mint user. When Mint shut down, I couldn’t find another budgeting app that felt as intuitive or reliable. I know that’s a frustration a lot of people share — and it became another reason I decided to turn Copia into something bigger.

How Copia Will Help You

Most budgeting apps today haven’t fully embraced AI, but Copia is being built with it at the core. I’ve spent some time now, working with AI at the enterprise level, and I see how powerful it can be for personal finance.

Beyond AI, Copia is designed with features that make managing money more approachable — things like gamification to keep you stay motivated, and smart defaults so you don’t waste hours setting everything up. The goal is simple:

If you’re new to budgeting → you can sign in and instantly see your finances organized, without a painful setup process.

If you’re an enthusiast → you’ll have the depth and customization you want, with the ability to tailor everything to your style.

The Mission

At its core, Copia’s mission is to help as many people as possible build wealth, gain a clear picture of their spending, and create a path toward saving and living more comfortably. I’m not just building this for others — I’m building it for myself too.

I plan to release a beta version of Copia by the end of December, and I’d love for you to be part of it. If you’ve been searching for a better way to budget — one that’s smart, simple, smooth and built for the real world — Copia is for you.